.As Buhari inaugurates 3m MT/year facility
One of the highpoints of the newly inaugurated BUA Cement Sokoto Line 4, Plant, which the management said has scored many firsts, is its environmental friendliness in line with COP 26 protocols.
According to the cement company, the plant records almost zero emissions in its operations, as dust and noise pollution are captured with its state-of-the-art technology.
This is even as the plant is the first to run on 100% liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce emissions following a significant reduction in the use of coal.
Speaking during the official inauguration of the plant by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, the Chairman, BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the management adopted these measures for environmental sustainability.
He said: “While constructing our ultra-modern Cement producing facilities, we have taken the following proactive measures against CO2 emissions, noise and dust pollution.
“Our facilities come with carbon emission gas analyzers monitored by our operators. Dust collectors installed around the cement facilities purify the air quality.”
Aside from the emissions capture, he disclosed that even the limestone cement is also environmentally friendly, with less fossil fuel expended in the production through the use of the LNG.
Operating environment
Rabiu, who commended President Buhari for creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive, also acknowledged the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in setting up the gigantic project.
He disclosed that, “So far, we have invested over a billion dollars in the past four years, and we urge the CBN to continue to support industries like ours that use locally sourced raw materials to add value.
“In the past six years, we have completed four plants – two in Obu, Edo State, and two in Sokoto, including the Line 4, with BUA’s total production capacity now standing at 11.5million tonnes with the completion of this plant.
”Next year, we intend to complete the construction of two new plants of 3 million metric tonnes each for which construction is ongoing – one in Edo and the other, here in Sokoto.”
He therefore assured that BUA would continue to invest more in the cement industry until Nigeria is self-sufficient, and the commodity is made available, accessible, and affordable for all Nigerians.
Our facilities come with carbon emission gas analyzers monitored by our operators. Dust collectors installed around the cement facilities purify the air quality.
Active economic policies
President Buhari, who performed the inauguration, said the BUA investment is a demonstration that the Federal Government’s policies on economic diversification, job creation and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, were working.
He recalled that in 1985 as the then Head of State, he was at the same location to commission the second line of the facility.
He continued: “Today, almost thirty-seven years later, to commission the fourth line is a very special day for me personally.
“As you all know, one of the key economic pillars of our administration has been to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. This is necessary for job creation and indeed, for our economy and national security.
“In the past few weeks, I visited Ogun and Kaduna States where I observed many private sector investments in action. And today, I am here in Sokoto to commission this multi-billion Naira project.
“It is therefore very clear for all to see that our policies are working. Progress is gradually being made in all parts of the country,”
He added that “As a Government, we introduced policies and mechanisms to support such investments in a legal, ethical and inclusive manner.”
He commended BUA Cement for being the largest private sector employer of labour in the North-Western Nigeria, and together with other entrepreneurs, helping to make Nigeria self-sufficient in cement and a net exporter of the strategic product.
Investment hub
Commending BUA Cement and its Chairman, Rabiu for being “a silent achiever,” Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said his administration has tried to make the local business environment conducive for investments.
He said this is evident in the State’s ranking as 2nd in the ease of doing business, thereby boosting the policy to make Sokoto the preferred investment destination in Nigeria, not just for cement manufacturing, but also for agro-commodities and for export.
He disclosed that both the BUA Group and the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, have been socially responsible and demonstrated good corporate citizenship through infrastructure development in host communities, grants and scholarships for indigent students.
